Afghanistan can only qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals if England beats South Africa by at least 207 runs or chases down a target of 300 within 11.1 overs. South Africa currently stands second in their group and must win to secure advancement, while India and New Zealand’s match will also determine consequential semi-final placements.
Afghanistan’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy 2025 hinge on the outcome of the match between South Africa and England, scheduled for Saturday. South Africa, currently in second place in Group B, requires only a victory, regardless of the margin, to secure their spot in the knockout rounds. Australia has already qualified from this group.
For Afghanistan to advance, England must defeat South Africa by at least 207 runs, or they must successfully chase a target of 300 runs within 11.1 overs. This scenario presents a daunting challenge for Afghanistan, whose chances for qualification remain tenuous.
Ten matches have been played in the Champions Trophy 2025 so far, predominantly in Pakistan, with three matches affected by rain. A potential rainout in the South Africa versus England match would result in shared points, allowing South Africa to advance due to their superior net run rate over Australia.
If this occurs, South Africa would end up with four points, equaling Australia, yet they would place first due to their net run rate of +2.140. The subsequent matchups in the semi-finals would depend on the outcome of India’s final group match against New Zealand.
The semi-finals are set to take place, with one match occurring at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 4, followed by the other match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 5. The positioning of all teams for these critical matches will depend heavily on the results from the ongoing league games.
The fate of Afghanistan’s qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-finals is intricately tied to the result of the South Africa versus England match. While South Africa seems poised for advancement with a favorable position in the league, Afghanistan’s prospects remain slim, largely contingent upon an improbable outcome. The positioning of teams advancing to the knockout stage is also influenced by other competitors within Group A, particularly India and New Zealand, as they finalize their standings.
Original Source: sports.ndtv.com